4.29.2007

Well, today I was cleaning out my closet, and I found some things that brought a bit of laughter to the grimace that comes along with hauling boxes to the attic. I felt the need to share. The first pic is one of some picks that I found in a change jar. Here we have one of the dudes in Zwan that I got from my friend Jay who was a tech for them. Then theres the Tyler Burkum of Audio A fame... The legendary Mike from MxPx... and possibly the most random, a pick from the now dissolved band The Benjamin Gate. Also in there was a button with some piano keys that reads "be positive." I shall wear it proudly, and in turn people will inevitable be filled with joy. Then I opened a box that did not look very familar, and what did I find but a box of at least 200 album covers for the record Mmhmm... I don't remember if I was supposed to sign these or something, but I'm sure if I was, the people who were going to recieve them have long forgotten because they have been in my closet for at least a year and a half. I'm pretty sure they were just extras. Anyways, I found these items funny and thought I would share a few things that randomly occupied my now very clean closet.

4.27.2007

Hoopes just emailed this to me, and i thought i would share... its long, but a good one. i dont know where he got it, so i cant give the credit where it is due... but its a very interesting theory... read at own risk of it being true, and spoiling.... enjoy...

This is going to be long, so I apologize ahead of time; but this will be worth reading. I have migrated away from my previous 'bio-dome' theory, over to a new one that I'm developing. I think that what we will eventually find this all to be will be very much like the Matrix. I know this theory has been bounded about previously, but I want to get away from people thinking that it's exactly like the Matrix, and know that what I'm saying is just that it's similar. Hear me out. Back when Rose and Bernard went to the faith healer in an attempt to heal her cancer, he told them about certain places on Earth with unimaginable healing power, but that his little area was just not strong enough to heal her. I think we were being misdirected by the writers, to subscribe to the whole 'bio-dome' idea, where the Hanso foundation may have found the be-all-end-all place on Earth with a wealth of this mysterious, electromagnetic healing power; and for the sake of "saving humanity" they set up the Dharma Initiative on this island for research and development. They also misdirected us to believe that it may be somewhere near the North / South Pole, or underwater even, with an elaborate entry and exit process, somehow protected from its original surrounding elements and tempered for human existence. But now, I am almost certain that the island is not a physical place, but a virtual reality "program" developed by the Dharma Initiative, and that the island's inhabitants are actually "jacked in", if you will. The Juliette back-story, where we learn about her submarine trip to the island... I believe that trip to have been completely staged. And equally suspicious, was Desmond's arrival, where he simply started gaining consciousness on the beach without any recollection of how he got there. I would bet anything that we find out that those facades, and Lock blowing up the sub, have absolutely nothing to do with getting to and leaving the "island" except for the fact that that is what Ben and the others (I'll get back to them in a minute) want Juliette and the 815'ers to believe. It has become increasingly clear that the Hanso/Dharma mission statement of "saving humanity" is meant to be taken in more of a spiritual and emotional way, rather than in a physical way like healing diseases, yadda, yadda. I think this "program" was specifically designed to do just that - help to heal people in a spiritual and emotional way, and if you think about it, it is doing exactly that. Then, much like the purgatory theories, once you resolve your issues, you "die" - but all you're really doing is exiting the program - and I am certain that Boone, Shanon, Ecko, Anna Lucia, etc. are still alive in the "real world". This also explains how Mikhail was able to "die" and get jacked back in and how, now that Charlie has conquered his demons, the "program" is trying to "kill" him. I think that the whole "Catch-22" reference is pointing out the fact that, once you're in the program, you have to "die" to "live" (or more to the point, get back to the real world). I think that Penny's dad, having Hanso affiliations, knew about the program, and what it was intended to be able to do, and saw the perfect opportunity to have the love of his daughter's life loaded in, and made into a better person, more suited for his daughter. Now back to the others. I think that a select few of them are in on the fact that it's a program and not reality, allowing them strength and abilities at the maximum of their human capacity (much like the agents in the Matrix); their purpose being to manage the test subjects, and the program itself, from within. Our beloved 815'ers were methodically selected and subliminally herded, if you will, on to flight 815 for the sole reason of being able to stage the crash so no one would question their disappearances, and allow Hanso/Dharma the spiritually deficient test subjects they needed for their program; which is why parachute-girl heard on the news in the real world that the wreckage of 815 was found and that there was no survivors. This all also lends credence to the fact that Aaron was the first baby ever born (in reality) while the mother's consciousness was inside "the program", and he was subsequently able to be jacked in and exist in the program with her. On the other hand, when the conception occurs in the "program", the baby can't ever be born, because there is no tangible "real life" being created that can then get jacked in and continue on in the program; so the mother "dies" to enable her exit from the program. I have so many other supporting facts, but I'm tired of typing. Peace.

4.25.2007

We just finished the second leg of the tour and I am home sweet home. I don't know often I'll post while I'm here, but I will do my best. Just wanted to say thanks to everyone for coming out to our shows these past two legs, and being so awesome. Its been great meeting a lot of you guys and hanging out after shows. Hope to see more of you while we finish up this tour with Mae and Sherwood. Next stop, Cleveland...

4.23.2007

This record starts off with the catchy single "girlfriend" and stays unbelievably good until the 8th or 9th track, then ends with the song "keep holding on" which is a pretty good tune. I feel like the album title on this one kinda sums up the feel of this record... strategically placed expletives that enforce the "attitude" of the punk princess. There are plenty of four letters throughout, even a few f bombs here and there. I believe that there is a "clean" version of this record, but I'm not sure which words they take out for those anymore. It seems to me like she has been spinning Gwen Stefani's record lately, and listening to hip hop or something, because she starts a few songs with cadence type talk-raps that probably go over really well live. She actually does the whole gimme and A, gimme a V and so on spelling out her name with clever answers for each letter. There are also a few screaming parts that I'm not sure if she's joking, or being serious... Anyways, this record is primo bubble gum punk pop rock to a tee. It will definitely leave you with some songs stuck in your head, whether or not thats a good thing, I dunno... I think I still like "let go" a little bit better, but aside from the (in my opinion)seemingly forced dirty words, it's a good record. I guess some kids will probably like it just for that reason, and maybe thats what she was going for.

Well, after the cold realization that I was in fact going to win the Fast Food Bet, Dave seceded and the bet was amicably dissolved. Those of you who aren't aware of the bet that we had, Dave and I had a bet that I could not go three years without eating my favorite fast foods. The wager was for $1000.00, and lasted exactly 247 days. In a related story, sales of pepto bismol skyrocketed in the relient k camp.

Attached are a few pics of the actual meal that I waited over 8 months for...

I just picked up the NIN year zero record while i was in Portland, OR. I dont think i can really say much more about this record that hasnt already been said, so i will just tell you whether or not i like it.... i like it. Obviously it is a huge anti war concept record, and the marketing on this one was done with no stone left unturned, so your opinion towards that situation could have a great effect on your perception of the disc. Politics and religion aside, for the moment, i think this is still going to be a fan piece. If you havent ever like NIN, i dont think this record is going to change your mind. However, if you do like NIN, which i do, then you will probably want to add this one to your collection. Reznor does a great job performing on this album. His musicianship has always been amazing, and he is one of my favorite producers, and this is right up to par. As far as his stabs at politics and religion go... I am the type of person who can listen to a piece and regardless of their views, can appreciate the music, and respect their freedom of speech, just as many people do with our band. I dont really feel like getting into a political debate over a record, but i will say that if you have a problem with anti bush and anti war lyrics, than this probably isnt for you. There is a cool feature on this disc that you have probably heard of... When you put the all black disc into a hot computer, when you take it out, it has a beautiful design of off white goodness... pretty cool thermal technology. To sum it up... I dont think this will make anyone who didnt like NIN previously convert to a fan, but it is another solid record from Trent.

js

disclaimer: ALL reviews on this webiste are strictly my opinion...However, The views and opinions of that which I am reviewing are not necissarily the views and/or opinions of myself, or groups I am affiliated with... Please dont base anything YOU do off of what I say. Please think for yourself.

4.18.2007

Yo dudes. Just hanging out in Portland for the day. Were about to play our show. I met some peoples (Hallie and her friends) earlier over at the record store across the street where I picked up the new NIN record... I'll post my review soon... I'm only half way through it. I came back here, did a quick sketch, which i plan to finish later, of a sweet dude rocking out, and then the dudes from mae hopped in a quick photobooth shot. Tomorrow is a day off in Boise so check back, because I will probably have nothing to do but blog all day. Got a lot of new fan/friend pics to post, and a few books/cds to review. I havent done a review on my blog since the days over at the iweb address... Im sure everyones excited, wait, do crickets chirping mean excitement? Alright, I have go to play a show. bye.

4.17.2007

I just went through my junk email folder, and I realized that I had a lot of emails from friends and fans that had been misdirected to the spam category... there was well over 1000 emails in my folder, so I didnt have time to go through all of them and see which ones were real, and which ones were people trying to sell me prescription medicine and cell phone ringtones... so if you wrote me an email at jon@relientk.com, and never got a response, then that is the most likely explination of what happened, because I do try to get to them all, and respond... Also, on another note, I have been seeing kids after shows and a large percent have been asking me to post the picture I take with them on my blog, so I am assuming that more and more people are reading this, so I guess I should start posting more often. Anyways, sorry about the emails, and thanks for reading, I will try to get some substance up here soon. See you guys later!

4.16.2007

Linz and I with Tom from Myspace backstage at the Avalon in Hollywood, CA. Sorry I havent posted a blog with any sort of substance to it lately... check out our tour journals at relientk.com though, and you will find some good humor there.

4.01.2007

Just letting everyone know, I'm still here. We are in the middle of a little break, so I havent been blogging... I have however been hanging with my wife and dogs, also hung out with Jonathan from hawk nelson, and his wife over a double date the other night... and got to go to my home church this sunday, which was nice, and I also gave myself a haircut. Were headed back out on Tuesday night, so Ill be sure to let everyone know whats shakin as soon as I get back to shakin it. See u soon.

Disclaimer...

ALL reviews on this webiste are strictly my opinion...However, The views and opinions of that which I am reviewing are not necessarily the views and/or opinions of myself, or groups I am affiliated with... Please dont base anything YOU do off of what I say. Please think for yourself. Learn. Enjoy.